Vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

An object of the present invention is to provide a dust collecting device in a vacuum cleaner replacement of which dust collecting filter is easy. To achieve this, the present invention provides a vacuum cleaner including a cleaner body having a body suction opening, and a fan-motor assembly for forced circulation of air introduced through the body suction opening, a dust collecting device in communication with the body suction opening, the dust collecting device having a main cyclone unit for separating foreign matters from the air introduced thereto by a cyclone principle, and at least one supplementary cyclone unit around the main cyclone for separating foreign matters from the air discharged from the main cyclone unit, a suction unit having an air suction opening in communication with the body suction opening, for drawing external air through the air suction opening, and a filter assembly having a dust collecting filter in a flow passage through which the air from the supplementary cyclone unit flows for separating the foreign matters from the air, and a filter housing in the dust collecting device for housing the dust collecting filter therein and drawing out of the dust collecting device assembly in a sliding fashion, thereby permitting easy mounting/dismounting of the dust collecting filter on/off the dust collecting device, enabling convenient washing or replacement of the dust collecting filter.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. P2005-0049801, filed on Jun. 10, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to vacuum cleaners, and more particularly, to a vacuum cleaner mounting/dismounting of a dust collecting filter on/off which is easy.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

A dust collecting device in a related art vacuum cleaner will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

In the vacuum cleaners, in general, there are canister type vacuum cleaners, and upright type vacuum cleaner. FIG. 1 illustrates a related art upright type vacuum cleaner.

Referring to FIG. 1, the upright type vacuum cleaner is provided with a suction unit 30 for moving on a floor to draw air containing foreign matters, a cleaner body 10 having a fan-motor assembly built therein for generating a suction force to draw the air containing foreign matters through the suction unit 30, a dust collecting device 20 for separating the foreign matters from the air introduced through the suction unit 30, and a handle 40 at an upper portion of the cleaner body 10 of the vacuum cleaner for a use to hold.

The suction unit 30 draws air through a suction mouth (not shown) in an underside surface thereof while the suction unit 30 moves close to the floor. The suction unit 30 is provided with pairs of wheels 31 for easy movement.

On a rear of the cleaner body 10, there is a cord hanger 11. It is preferable that the cord hanger 11 is formed in pairs at upper and lower portions of a rear side of the cleaner body 10 symmetrically, for winding cord thereon for storage.

The fan-motor assembly built in the cleaner body 10 draws external air containing foreign matters through the suction unit 30.

At a center of the cleaner body 10, there is a dust collecting device 20 detachably mounted thereon. The dust collecting device 20 separates foreign matters from the air drawn through the suction unit 30. Projected from a side of the dust collecting device 20, there is a handle 21 for easy holding of the dust collecting device 20.

There is a connection hose 50 between the cleaner body 10 and the suction unit 30. The connection hose 50 guides external air and foreign matters from the suction unit 30 to an inside of the cleaner body 10. Though not shown, in a rear of the cleaner body 10, there may be a hose mount for placing the connection hose 50 thereon.

In the meantime, though not shown, over the related art dust collecting device, there may be a separate dust collecting filter for final separation of fine foreign matters the dust collecting device failed to separate in separating foreign matter introduced to the dust collecting device by a cyclone system. Since the dust collecting filter captures fine foreign matters not yet been separated by the dust collecting device, it is required that the dust collecting filter is washed or replaced periodically for preventing a suction force of the vacuum cleaner from becoming poor caused by accumulation of fine dust.

However, the related art dust collecting device has a problem in that the separation of the dust collecting filter from the cleaner body for periodic washing or replacement is cumbersome. Moreover, much effort is required for the user even in determining an extent of accumulation of dust in the dust collecting filter for determining a time for washing or replacing the dust collecting filter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a vacuum cleaner that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner which enables easy separation of a dust collecting filter from the vacuum cleaner, for convenient washing or replacement of the dust collecting filter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner which enables a user to dismount the dust collecting filter easily, so that the user can determine an extent of accumulation of dust in the dust collecting filter.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner body having a body suction opening, and a fan-motor assembly for forced circulation of air introduced through the body suction opening, a dust collecting device in communication with the body suction opening, the dust collecting device having a main cyclone unit for separating foreign matters from the air introduced thereto by a cyclone principle, and at least one supplementary cyclone unit around the main cyclone for separating foreign matters from the air discharged from the main cyclone unit, a suction unit having an air suction opening in communication with the body suction opening, for drawing external air through the air suction opening, and a filter assembly having a dust collecting filter in a flow passage through which the air from the supplementary cyclone unit flows for separating the foreign matters from the air, and a filter housing in the dust collecting device or the cleaner body for housing the dust collecting filter therein and drawing out of the dust collecting device or the cleaner body in a sliding fashion, thereby permitting easy mounting/dismounting of the dust collecting filter on/off the dust collecting device, enabling convenient washing or replacement of the dust collecting filter.

Preferably, the vacuum cleaner further includes a filter mounting portion at a portion the filter housing is to be mounted thereto, having an opening for mounting the filter housing. More preferably, the filter assembly further includes a sealing member at a portion the filter housing is secured to the filter mounting portion for preventing the air from leaking to an outside of the filter assembly.

In the meantime, preferably, the filter housing includes a mesh at at least one of an upper and a lower portion of the filter housing for easy reception of the filter. More preferably, the filter housing includes a holding member for holding the dust collecting filter. Moreover, more preferably, the filter assembly further includes a handle on a front of the filter housing.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings;

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a related art vacuum cleaner, schematically;

FIG. 2 illustrates a section of a part of a dust collecting device in a vacuum cleaner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a vacuum cleaner in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a section of the dust collecting device in FIG. 3 across a line I-I;

FIG. 5 illustrates a section of the dust collecting device in FIG. 3 across a line II-II;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a vacuum cleaner in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a section of the dust collecting device in FIG. 6 across a line III-III;

FIG. 8 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a vacuum cleaner in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a section of the dust collecting device in FIG. 8 across a line IV-IV.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

A system and an operation principle of a cyclone dust collecting device in a vacuum cleaner will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

A cleaner is provided with a dust collecting device. In the dust collecting devices, there are a system using a general dust bag and a cyclone system.

Recently, the cyclone system is used, in which no replacement of the dust bag is required, wherein a cyclone principle is used for collecting foreign matters, such as dust, from air. In order to improve a dust collecting performance, a multiple cyclone dust collecting device having a plurality of cyclone units mounted thereto is used.

The multiple cyclone dust collecting device includes a main cyclone unit 210 for drawing contaminated air from an outside of the multiple cyclone dust collecting device, and collecting comparatively large dust, an a supplementary cyclone unit 220 connected to the main cyclone unit 210 for collecting comparatively small dust.

The main cyclone unit 210, a cylindrical container in close contact with a bottom of the dust collecting device, has a first suction opening 211 in a side surface of an upper portion for introduction of contaminated air containing foreign matters in a tangential direction, and a first discharge opening 212 at a center of a top for discharging air cleaned primarily.

According to this, the main cyclone unit 210 has an upper space forming a main cyclone part 213 for separating foreign matters by centrifugal force, and a lower space forming a main dust storage part 214 for storing foreign matters separated by the centrifugal force.

The supplementary cyclone unit 220 includes a plurality of small sized supplementary cyclone units 221 arranged in a circumferential direction around the upper portion of the main cyclone unit 210, and a supplementary dust storage part 222 for storing dust separated at the supplementary cyclone unit 221.

The supplementary dust storage part 222 is under the supplementary cyclone units 221. The main dust storage part 214 and the supplementary dust storage part 222 are separated by a sidewall of the main cyclone unit 210.

Accordingly, the air having the foreign matters separated therefrom at the main cyclone unit 210 primarily is discharged to the supplementary cyclone unit 221 through the first discharge opening 212 via pass through holes 215a in an air discharge member 215 inside of the main cyclone unit 210, involved in a secondary dust separation step, and discharged in an upper side of the dust collecting device.

In the meantime, it is preferable that a fly preventing member 216 is provided under the pass through holes 215 for preventing the dust from flying.

The fly preventing member 216 prevents the dust captured at the main dust storage part 214 from rising laden on the cyclone and introducing into the supplementary cyclone unit 220.

For this, it is preferable that the fly preventing member 216 is formed as one body with the air discharge member 215 at an underside thereof, and has a truncated cone shape which has a diameter that becomes the greater as it goes the lower. It is more preferable that an upper surface of the fly preventing member 216 is sloped downwardly.

An upright type vacuum cleaner will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 as a preferred embodiment of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a vacuum cleaner in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate sections of the dust collecting device in FIG. 3 across lines I-I and II-II.

A basic configuration of the vacuum cleaner of the present invention is identical to the related art vacuum cleaner. That is, the vacuum cleaner of the present invention includes a cleaner body 110 of the vacuum cleaner, a dust collecting device 120, a suction unit 130, and filter assembly 160, and 170. However, the vacuum cleaner of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a filter housing 160 slidably mounted to the dust collecting device 120, for placing a dust collecting filter 161 therein for separating foreign matters from the air discharged from the dust collecting device, and drawing out of the dust collecting device 120.

The cleaner body 110 of the vacuum cleaner has an opening (not shown) in one side for drawing air into the body, and a fan-motor assembly (not shown) in the body for force flow of the air introduced into the opening in the body.

The dust collecting device 120 is in communication with the opening in the body and, as described before, separates foreign matters from the air by the cyclone principle, and includes a main cyclone unit 210, for separating foreign matters from the air by the cyclone principle, and at least one supplementary cyclone units 220 around the main cyclone unit 210 for separating foreign matters from the air discharged from the main cyclone unit 210.

The suction unit 130 has an air suction opening in communication with the opening in the body, for drawing air through a suction opening (not shown) in an underside thereof while moving close to a floor. The suction unit 130 has wheels 131 mounted in pairs for easy moving of the vacuum cleaner.

The vacuum cleaner includes a handle 140 at an upper portion of the cleaner body 110 for user's holding, and a connection hose 150 between the cleaner body 110 and the suction unit 130. The connection hose 150 guides the external air and foreign matters from the suction unit 130 to an inside of the cleaner body 110.

The filter assembly includes a dust collecting filter 161 for separating foreign matters, a filter housing 160 for housing the dust collecting filter 161, and a filter mounting portion 170 for mounting the filter housing 160.

There are not limitation in positions of the filter housing 160, and the filter mounting portion 170, i.e., they may be provided at the dust collecting device 120 or the cleaner body 110 of the vacuum cleaner. In the present embodiment, the filter assembly is mounted on an upper portion of the dust collecting device 120.

The filter housing 160 houses the dust collecting filter 161, and is detachably mounted to the dust collecting device 120 like a drawer. The dust collecting filter 161 may be formed of sponge, non woven fabric, or so on, for final separation of fine foreign matters not yet been separated from the air from the supplementary cyclone unit 220 via the dust collecting device 120. The dust collecting filter 161 is detachably mounted on an upper side of the filter housing 160.

In the meantime, it is required that the dust collecting filter 161, capturing the fine foreign matters, is washed or replaced periodically for preventing a suction force of the vacuum cleaner from becoming poor. Therefore, it is required that the dust collecting filter 161 is separated from the cleaner body 110 easily. In the present invention, the filter housing 160 that houses the dust collecting filter 161 is designed to be draw out of the vacuum cleaner while sliding the filter housing 160, so that the dust collecting filter 161 is separated from the vacuum cleaner, easily.

The filter housing 160 includes a handle 164 on a front for easy separation of the filter housing 160 from the cleaner body 110. The handle 164 enables the user to draw out the filter housing 160 easily by pulling the handle 164.

In the meantime, there is a sealing member 165 at a portion the filter housing 160 is secured to the filter mounting portion 170, for preventing the air from leaking to an outside of the cleaner body 110 during the air from the dust collecting device 120 passes through the dust collecting filter 161.

It is preferable that the sealing member 165 is mounted on a front circumference of the filter housing 160 to surround the front of the filter housing 160 so that the front of the filter housing 160 is in close contact with an opening 171 of the filter mounting portion in a state the filter housing 160 is secured to the filter mounting portion 170.

Over the filter housing 160, there is a mesh 162 formed thereon for sustaining a housing state of the dust collecting filter 161 against an air flow. Though there is no limitation in a shape of the mesh 162, it is preferable that the shape of the mesh is designed to minimize a flow resistance of the air.

The filter housing 160 has at least one holding member 163 at an upper portion of the filter housing 160 for preventing the dust collecting filter 161 from falling off the upper side of the filter housing 160. There is no limitation in shapes of the holding member 163, and the shape of the holding member 163 may have a mesh shape. FIG. 3 illustrates an example in which the holding member 163 is a plurality of inward projections from an upper side of the filter housing 160.

The filter mounting portion 170, at a portion the filter housing is mounted thereto, has an opening 171 in a front for placing the filter housing 160 therein. The filter mounting portion 170 has an upper portion and a lower portion in communication for escaping of the air from the dust collecting device through the air discharge opening via the dust collecting filter.

A flow passage of the air from the dust collecting device through the dust collecting filter will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

When cleaning starts, the fan-motor assembly (not shown) generates suction force to draw air through the suction unit 130, and the air passes through the main cyclone unit 210 and the supplementary cyclone unit 220, during which foreign matters are separated by the cyclone principle. The air passed through such a cyclone separation step is discharged from the supplementary cyclone unit 220, as shown in FIG. 5 in arrows, flows from a lower portion to an upper portion of the filter housing 160 through a side thereof, and, in turn, passes the dust collecting filter 161 from an upper side to a lower side thereof. As the air passes the dust collecting filter 161, the foreign matters are captured at the dust collecting filter 161, and the air passed through the dust collecting filter 161 is discharged to an outside of the dust collecting device 120 through the air discharge opening 172 in a rear of the dust collecting device 120.

A vacuum cleaner in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

A basic design of the embodiment is identical to the first embodiment. That is, a filter assembly includes a dust collecting filter 261 for separating foreign matters, a filter housing 260 for housing the dust collecting filter 261, a filter mounting portion 270 for mounting the filter housing thereto. However, the dust collecting filter 261 is mounted on an underside of the filter housing 260, so that the air from the dust collecting device flows from a lower side to an upper side of the filter housing 260 to pass the dust collecting filter 261 from a lower side to an upper side.

In the embodiment, the dust collecting filter 261 is detachably mounted on an underside of the filter housing 260, and opposite to the first embodiment, a mesh 262 is provided to an upper portion of the filter housing 260 for maintaining a received state of the dust collecting filter against the air flow. An air discharge opening 272 of the dust collecting device is provided to a top of the dust collecting device 120.

There is at least one holding member 163 at a lower portion of the filter housing 160 for preventing the dust collecting filter 161 mounted on the underside of the filter housing 160 from falling off the filter housing 160.

Referring to FIG. 7, a flow passage of the air from the dust collecting device through the dust collecting filter 261 is designed such that the air from the supplementary cyclone unit passes the dust collecting filter 261 from a lower side to an upper side of the filter housing 260 directly. As the air passes the dust collecting filter, foreign matters are captured at the dust collecting filter 261, and the air passed through the dust collecting filter 261 is discharged to an outside of the dust collecting device 120 through the air discharge opening 272 in the top of the dust collecting device 120.

A vacuum cleaner in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

Alike other embodiments, the filter assembly also includes a dust collecting filter 361 for separating foreign matters, a filter housing 360 for housing the dust collecting filter 361, a filter mounting portion 370 for mounting the filter housing 360 thereto. However, in the embodiment, the filter assembly 361 is provided, not to the dust collecting device 120, but to the cleaner body 110 of the vacuum cleaner.

The dust collecting device 120 is detachably mounted on the cleaner body 110 of the vacuum cleaner, and in a top of the dust collecting device 120, there is an air discharge opening. The filter assembly is mounted in the air flow passage in the cleaner body 110 of the vacuum cleaner through which the air discharged through the air discharge opening flows, for separating fine dust by using the dust collecting filter 361.

The filter housing 360 may have the dust collecting filter 361 mounted on an upper side or an underside thereof, and FIG. 8 illustrates an example, in which the dust collecting filter mounted on the underside of the filter housing 360.

There is a mesh 162 provided to an upper portion of the filter housing 360 for maintaining a received state of the dust collecting filter 361 against the air flow. Though there is no limitation in a shape of the mesh 162, it is preferable that the shape of the mesh is designed to minimize an air flow resistance.

There is at least one holding member 363 at a lower portion of the filter housing 360 for preventing the dust collecting filter 361 from falling off the filter housing 360.

The filter mounting portion 370 is formed in the body of the vacuum cleaner, and the filter housing 360 is detachably mounted to the filter mounting portion 370. In detail, the filter mounting portion 370 is formed at a front portion of the body where the filter housing 360 is to be mounted thereto with a front opening for placing the filter housing 360 therein.

In order to make the air from the dust collecting device 120 to pass the dust collecting filter 361, not partially, but entirely, a flow passage in the cleaner body 110 of the vacuum cleaner is enlarged at a portion where the dust collecting filter 361 is mounted therein. In order to minimize an air flow resistance, it is preferable that the enlarged portion of the flow passage is rounded.

Though not shown, in a case the dust collecting filter 361 is mounted on an upper side of the filter housing 360, it is preferable that the mesh is formed at the lower portion of the filter housing 360, and the holding member is formed at the upper portion. Moreover, alike the first embodiment, it is preferable that a flow passage is designed in the cleaner body 110 of the vacuum cleaner such that the air from the dust collecting device 120 passes the dust collecting filter 361 from an upper side to a lower side thereof.

In the meantime, the filter receiving structure of the present invention is applicable both to the canister type and upright type vacuum cleaners.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

As has been described, the dust collecting device of a vacuum cleaner of the present invention has the following advantages.

First, the primary separation of foreign matters at the main cyclone unit and secondary separation of foreign matters at the supplementary cyclone unit permits effective separation of the foreign matters, thereby improving a dust collecting performance.

Second, the separate provision of a dust collecting filter for separating fine foreign matters from air from the cyclone units permits to improve a dust collecting performance, and minimize the fine foreign matters laden on the air introduced to a motor side, to improve a lifetime of the motor.

Third, the slidable type design of the filter housing permits easy drawing out of the filter housing like a drawer, which enables easy separation of the dust collecting filter from the filter housing for washing or replacement of the dust collecting filter. This point can be brought into relief furthermore in a view that it is expected the dust collecting filter is washed or replaced periodically.

Fourth, since the user can draw out the dust collecting filter to an outside of the vacuum cleaner readily, the user can determine an extent of accumulation of the dust on the dust collecting filter, readily. The easy determination of the extent of dust accumulation with naked eyes permits precise determination of the washing or replacing time of the dust collecting filter.

Fifth, the case the air from the cyclone passes from an upper side to a lower side of the dust collecting filter, capturing the fine foreign matters on the upper side of the dust collecting filer, is advantageous in that the fine foreign matters can be removed easily, that can solve a problem, if the foreign matters are captured on the underside of the dust collecting filter, of falling down of the fine foreign matters onto a floor to contaminate the surroundings, or of attachment of the foreign matters to the mesh of the filter housing during the dust collecting filter is mounted/dismounted on/off the filter housing for removing the foreign matters therefrom.

Owing to above advantages, convenience of use of the cyclone vacuum cleaner can be improved, and, as the user can remove the dust collecting filter from the vacuum cleaner readily, to provide a satisfactory product in view of preference of the user, a product competitiveness of the vacuum cleaner can be elevated by one more stage. 

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner body having a body suction opening, and a fan-motor assembly for forced circulation of air introduced through the body suction opening; a dust collecting device in communication with the body suction opening, the dust collecting device having a main cyclone unit for separating foreign matters from the air introduced thereto by a cyclone principle, and at least one supplementary cyclone unit around the main cyclone for separating foreign matters from the air discharged from the main cyclone unit; a suction unit having an air suction opening in communication with the body suction opening, for drawing external air through the air suction opening; and a filter assembly having a dust collecting filter in a flow passage through which the air from the supplementary cyclone unit flows for separating the foreign matters from the air, and a filter housing in the dust collecting device for housing the dust collecting filter therein and drawing out of the dust collecting device in a sliding fashion.
 2. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a filter mounting portion at a portion the filter housing is to be mounted thereto, having an opening for mounting the filter housing.
 3. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 2, wherein the filter assembly further includes a sealing member at a portion the filter housing is secured to the filter mounting portion for preventing the air from leaking to an outside of the filter assembly.
 4. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filter housing includes a mesh for maintaining a received state of the dust collecting filter against an air flow.
 5. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mesh is at at least one of an upper and a lower portion of the filter housing.
 6. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 4, wherein the filter housing includes a holding member for holding the dust collecting filter.
 7. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filter assembly further includes a handle on a front of the filter housing.
 8. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a cleaner body having a body suction opening, and a fan-motor assembly for forced circulation of air introduced through the body suction opening; a dust collecting device in communication with the body suction opening, the dust collecting device having a main cyclone unit for separating foreign matters from the air introduced thereto by a cyclone principle, and at least one supplementary cyclone unit around the main cyclone for separating foreign matters from the air discharged from the main cyclone unit; a suction unit having an air suction opening in communication with the body suction opening, for drawing external air through the air suction opening; and a filter assembly having a dust collecting filter in a flow passage through which the air from the supplementary cyclone unit flows for separating the foreign matters from the air, and a filter housing in the cleaner body for housing the dust collecting filter therein and drawing out of the cleaner body in a sliding fashion.
 9. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a filter mounting portion at a portion the filter housing is to be mounted thereto, having an opening for mounting the filter housing.
 10. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 9, wherein the filter assembly further includes a sealing member at a portion the filter housing is secured to the filter mounting portion for preventing the air from leaking to an outside of the filter assembly.
 11. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 8, wherein the filter housing includes a mesh for maintaining a received state of the dust collecting filter against an air flow.
 12. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 11, wherein the mesh is at at least one of an upper and a lower portion of the filter housing.
 13. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 11, wherein the filter housing includes a holding member for holding the dust collecting filter.
 14. The vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 8, wherein the filter assembly further includes a handle on a front of the filter housing. 